“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;” (Psalms 92:12-14)

The start of a new year brings with it the opportunity to create intentional growth in all areas of life. One way to approach that growth is to carefully select goals and objectives that can be accomplished in the year, then define what success looks like for each of them. The purpose of this process is to set realistic, measurable goals that can be tracked and measured for success so that each objective can be achieved in an intentional and meaningful way.

Once goals and objectives have been established, it’s important to create a plan for achieving those goals, identify the steps required to reach each objective, and plan out how much time and resources will be necessary to complete each step. Staying on track with your goals is essential; develop a system to track progress and review your progress periodically. Visual reminders, such as a goal-tracking app or calendar, can help keep you motivated and accountable.

To cultivate one’s soul, one must be committed to personal development. Anyone can grow, but only those who are committed to development will put in the time and effort required. The first step on the path to enlightenment is making a decision. The decision need not be challenging, but it should be sincere. When Jesus’ followers decided to follow him, they weren’t thinking of all the possible outcomes. They just expressed an interest in following him, and so began an exciting journey of the spirit.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).

It says to “work out” your salvation, not “work on” it. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection took care of your spiritual salvation, so you don’t need to. The most important thing to keep in mind is that while God has a hand in shaping our lives, we also play a part. To go forward, we need to make an effort.

As you work to achieve your goals, remember to stay flexible and remain open to learning. Through the process of achieving your goals, you will gain new knowledge and skills that may come in handy as you move on to other goals and objectives, the New Year is a great time to focus on intentional growth. Let’s see Jesus’ life as an example of intentional growth.

Luke 2:40. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and the grace of God was upon him,” “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and the favor of God and man” (verse 52).

Keep an eye on Jesus’ maturation, and actions with past, present, and future effects as described using the present perfect progressive tense. He had grown, is growing, and will expand, Jesus constantly grows and change.

Without a growth-focused mindset, you can’t reap the benefits of progress. You will soon become irrelevant if you don’t take care of your growth. Knowledgeable people are best equipped to deal with a world that has not yet existed during periods of transition. If what you know ceases to be useful, it might be the greatest liability you have. The best way to learn something new is to forget what you already know. What counts is what you learn after you know it all.

A maturing stance may be achieved at any age. The majority of people fail to continue their education after finishing a course in school. When you’re first starting, it’s more vital to learn as much as possible than to make money. Your future income is usually determined by your early education. If you are dedicated to your growth and development, you will never stop learning and growing, not even in the face of death. It’s essential if you want to spend your life making the most possible impact.

According to Luke 2:52, Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Let’s see the four areas in which Jesus grew:

1. The mind (knowledge and wisdom)
2. Physical appearance (stature),
3. Spiritual growth (favor with God)
4. Socially, likeliness with others, preferred by others. (Favor with man)

This is a helpful reminder that all of the significant areas of life need to be considered as we progress. If you just care about intellectual growth and never work on improving your body, you may die young. If you work on bettering yourself in your social life but neglect your spiritual life, you’ll just be keeping your head above water.

Luke 2:46 says; “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.”

Those there couldn’t believe that a kid his age could show such maturity and wisdom in his responses. Please remember the following in light of this verse:

1. Jesus was given room for growth (the temple).
2. Jesus went through a maturation process (questions and listening).

There are instances when we stifle our growth because we refuse to place ourselves in a nourishing setting. It’s impossible to remain the smartest person in the room indefinitely. Create dialogues in which you pose questions rather than provide replies. If you associate yourself with others who are growing, you will experience a faster and more satisfying progression through life.

By setting meaningful goals, investing in yourself, and surrounding yourself with supportive people, you can make the year a year of intentional growth. Celebrate each success and commit to constantly improving yourself to make the most of this New Year. Take time to show yourself grace. As life takes unexpected turns, it’s important to accept that not every goal can be achieved this year – and that’s okay. Celebrate the successes, learn from the failures and keep moving toward your purpose. By setting and pursuing intentional goals, you can grow your life and make the most of 2023. Intentional growth is possible!

I hope you have been blessed through this piece, let’s continue the conversation in the comment section. Keep flourishing!